Maduro Declares Election Victory As Opposition Calls For More Protests

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said that 8,089,320 people, or 41.53 percent of registered voters, participated in Sunday’s election for a new constitutional assembly with the power to rewrite the South American nation’s constitution. Embattled President Nicolas Maduro, who called the vote, declared victory, saying the balloting was “a vote for the revolution.” Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said the election was a sham, and participation was actually less than 15 percent. Violent protests on election day left at least 10 people dead. The opposition, which says the election is pushing Venezuela closer to a dictatorship, called for more anti-Maduro protests on Monday. The Trump administration is threatening sanctions if the assembly is created.